The pilgrims' progress

[blamebrampton]

Remember how I was whining about World Youth Day? It's here ... In good news, it's legal to be annoying again. This is a great relief to me as I seem to annoy without trying. I managed to make a man on the train sniff derisively at me the other day, in what I thought was an unfair fashion, since I was in fact defending the Pope.

My friend had mentioned that the Pope had been a member of the Hitler Youth. "Yes," I said. "That's true, but imagine if we'd lost the War, we'd be speaking in hushed tones of Biggles readers." The sniffer ruffled his paper at me to emphasise his point, which I think is unfair. While there are many legitimate criticisms of the Pope to make, this isn't really one. If he'd been enthusiastic about it, that would be a different story ...

So. Sydney is full of pilgrims. It has been fun playing spot the order, and I did have a respectful giggle at the traditionally dressed nuns wearing World Youth Day football scarves with their habits. But the city as a whole has responded to the influx in its traditional way: it's gone mad.

One of the main train stations for the event is Wynyard, and it is expected to be packed, so, rather than having more trains, or station staff on the platforms controlling crowds, they have removed all the seats so there is more room to be packed in.

Pilgrims come with backpacks, and I can't really complain since I usually have my laptop pack with me, too. But they are young people with backpacks and some have a disturbing lack of spatial awareness. Happily they are also self-policing and I have seen completely unconnected pilgrims taking charge of groups of unruly youngsters and making them behave in an orderly fashion. I heart bossy pilgrims.

At Central, the main train station where I change trains of a workday, the station guard came over the tannoy saying: "Please stand behind the yellow line. If you do not stand behind the yellow line, you might die, even if you're a Pilgrim. That would be bad, we'd prefer you stand behind the yellow line. And have a holy, holy day!"

The cheery last phrase did make most people laugh.

And I was able to send some young French pilgrims to the right train on Tuesday, too, which I feel good about since they were on the Liverpool train, and if they hadn't jumped off at Erko or St Peters, may never have been seen again.

There was a cycling pilgrim who zipped past us today (you shall know them by their orange backpacks) and J muttered, "There goes someone who really has faith." I had to agree.

In Grrrrr WYD news, I find myself liking the Pope a great deal more than his representatives in Sydney. The Pope arrived in Sydney saying that he wished to apologise to victims of sexual abuse, who had been preyed on by those who betrayed the trust of their flock. He then went to a spiritual retreat and spent time with a kitten that has been specially obtained for him, and some native Australian animals.

At the same time, the Foster family began talking in the media about their multi-year struggle to obtain the court-awarded compensation that was ordered to them after their two girls were sexually abused by a notorious priest at their school. At least Cardinal Pell had the good grace to say that he understands why the family is upset.

However, the chief organiser of WYD, Bishop Fisher, told a press conference that the family is dwelling crankily on old wounds. Given the Fosters' eldest daughter committed suicide a few months ago, this is something of an outrageous statement. Pell has not yet commented on Fisher's words. I understand that Fisher wants everyone to concentrate on his bright shiny event, but this is not the way to do it.

Tomorrow the whole circus moves up the road from my work. If you do not hear from me for a few days, it will be because I have been lost in the crowds and been carted off to see an exorcist when my cranky baby lion impersonations are misunderstood.

Comments

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Cardinal Fang?!

Sorry, every time someone says Pell, I think Fang. Of course, I also want to see the big P dodge several million specially trained australian attack rabbits to lob the holy handgrenade.

Did they overturn the laws? I live in a cave, it does not get news.

btw... would you, as an author, find if offensive if a nice reader asked about the use of a word that they are unfamiliar with (ie., it differs in form from the word they would normally use in the same context?) Inquiring minds would like to know, for no specific particular reason at all... *whistles nonchalantly*

My brother and I had a very non PC conversation about your current 'event' - did you know that the two senior guys running it are Jewish? I may have heard this from undisclosed sources.

*hugs*

ps. I hope to fuck he apologises to the kitten afterwards. >.>

[deensey.livejournal.com]

Things I never thought I'd say 'fucking pilgrims'

I have now said it, as some PUSHED ME OUT OF THE WAY YESTERDAY TO GET ON A TRAIN.

Awesome.

Also, have you seen the JESUS WALK in nsydney? I'm afraid. I'm also afraid of tomorrow.

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

my friend tyellas is in your fair city currently on business (she's the one that introduced me to our mutually known alpaca keepers. she went to university with them). she's doing her best to stay out of the way of the pilgrims. my favourite quote of hers so far is I heard a Catholic chaperone telling her charge, "That lady won't give you directions, she's Protestant!" she also mentioned that 50-foot high images of His Papalness are being projected onto the main Harbour Bridge every night o.0

you should check out her posts on her musings on the matter over at her journal. [*nods*]

[*is squeeful with the bounty of blame posts*]

[absynthedrinker.livejournal.com]

I've actually met this Pope on a number of occasions when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger. I studied Italian in Rome and used to go to the German Mass he gave at the Vatican thrice weekly. He is as smart and as charming a man as you're likely to meet and I had a very favorable opinion of him. That being said, he is bit reactionary at times and always puts the interests of the Church (the institution)ahead of any possible pastoral concerns. I think the Fosters with their cleverly timed publicity campaign are not likely to find much relief.

The pilgrims,while probably well behaved still sound like a nightmare. Like being in Paris in the summer with all of those backpackers, with their guidebooks and hiking shoes. UGH!

This Pope already owns at least one cat I know for sure. Her name is Oremus (which as many of you know means "let us pray" in Latin. She is often seen scurrying around the halls of the Apostolic apartmnents and been seen being toted around by more than one exasperated Swiss Guard. Thank goodness for kitties.

Bishop Fisher sounds like a real piece of work. Too bad someone doesn't molest his ass with a nightstick. What an idiot!

Thanks for the update.

Peace,
Bubba

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun. And sorry to hear about the derisive sniffing.

Once in college, I got a group of friends together to travel to San Francisco to see the Pope: but everyone overslept and missed the appearance. None of us were religious, but we appreciated a good spectacle.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I went to see the Pope when he was in Toronto (John Paul II, at that time.) God, I was so hung over that morning, possibly still drunk from the party the night before. Er - my faith is a complicated myriad of contradictions. :D

But what a blast. I know we made a mess and really annoyed the city but it was a terrific experience. One I will never forget. JPII was, of course, a very different Pope than Benedict. But I have a lot of respect from the current one.

The Catholic Church has many failings. I cannot even begin to justify them, i won't try. But somethings that people jump on (like the Hitler Youth thing) can and should be discussed and understood.

because I have been lost in the crowds and been carted off to see an exorcist when my cranky baby lion impersonations are misunderstood *snort* douses you with holy water.

[dragonfly-lily.livejournal.com]

I miss Sydney. *sniff*

[spark-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

These Pope!posts amuse me. I find myself reading with the same suspended disbelief that I'd do an account of how they eat crickets in Asia. Like - yeah, it happens, obviously, but it seems so out of my own world I *have* to stare a bit... :amused: